Dallas Morning News special contributor Jonathan Bales has been breaking down which running backs the Cowboys could target in the upcoming NFL Draft. Read about them below and cast your vote on which back you would like the Cowboys to draft.

After a highly-impressive sophomore season in which he totaled 1,322 rushing yards, 6.5 YPC, and 14 total touchdowns, Arkansas running back Knile Davis turned in a disappointing junior season with just 377 rushing yards, 3.4 YPC, and three total scores. The running back had only two games in which he ran for at least 4.0 YPC, leading many to question whether or not he’s fully recovered from a season-ending 2011 ankle injury.

UNC running back Giovani Bernard tore his ACL in 2010 in just the third practice of his college career. He rebounded in 2011 with 1,253 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. In 2012, Bernard displayed his versatility by rushing for 1,228 yards, catching 47 passes, and leading the ACC in punt return average.

If Franklin is available in the third round, I think it’s a no-brainer for Dallas. Franklin ran in a read-zone type of offense at UCLA, but don’t forget that the Cowboys are transitioning to more zone-blocking assignments in 2013. Forget the concerns that the Cowboys need a big, physical running back to “complement” DeMarco Murray. The best complement to Murray would simply be the best possible running back—someone who can carry the load in the event that Murray gets injured—and Franklin is that.

With the Cowboys transitioning to more zone blocking concepts, Michael would be a good fit in Dallas. You’d like him to be better in pass protection, but he’s got the size/speed combination you covet and he could really help the ‘Boys in short-yardage situations, which is vital. If Michael’s off-field concerns cause him to fall, he could become an option for Dallas as soon as the third round, assuming he’s on their board.

Randle’s running style would actually be a good fit in Dallas, and he seems like the exact type of player that would interest the ‘Boys. I’m concerned the Cowboys might view Randle as a Murray clone—and thus inflate his value—when he’s really just a slowed-down version of Murray.

Ellington’s running style might fit in with what the Cowboys want to do on the ground, but I have a feeling they’ll be looking for a back who they consider to be more durable. They should really just be looking for the best possible all-around running back, regardless of how he “complements” DeMarco Murray. I’d consider Ellington a longshot to land in Dallas.

As mentioned, Stacy figures to go in the late rounds—the fifth or sixth, possibly. From a pure statistical standpoint, however, there isn’t that much that separates him from a player like Doug Martin. I think he’ll be value for any team that picks him after the second round.

I fear that the Cowboys will target Bell because he’s a “durable” runner. As I’ve explained in the past, injuries are a low-frequency event that are really susceptible to randomness. That means using past injuries to predict future ones is really, really difficult. In targeting a player who is labeled as “durable,” there’s a good chance that teams are emphasizing a trait that doesn’t actually exist.

Taylor has the well-rounded game of a player who could spell DeMarco Murray, and he’s also a fit for the Cowboys’ zone-blocking concepts. Still, there’s no reason to select a player who probably doesn’t have the ceiling to ever be a starter when there’s enough depth at the running back position to grab a player who could be a home run.

Lattimore would be a good backup to DeMarco Murray, once he gets onto the field, because he can do a little bit of everything. Once healthy, Lattimore will be very capable of handling the load in the event of another Murray injury. There appears to be at least moderate interest from the Cowboys, too, so Lattimore certainly isn’t out of the question.

If Ford can’t catch passes, the Cowboys might not even consider him. That’s something the team has likely already determined, and it will affect Ford’s draft stock in a big way. Otherwise, Ford is a fast, bulky running back who doesn’t have a lot of “wear and tear.” If the Cowboys miss out on a running back in the middle rounds, Ford could very well be an option later in the draft.

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